PTI’s Firdous ‘quits’ as Sindh opposition leader

KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, has tendered his resignation from the post, Geo News reported on Wednesday.

This was confirmed by Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, who said Naqvi had formally submitted his request to step down from the post the day he had apologised for his remarks against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Prime Minister Imran Khan and Energy Minister Omar Ayub.

“On ethical grounds, he has handed in his resignation to me,” said Ismail, adding: “The Prime Minister has yet to accept his resignation.” The development follows an incident earlier this month when Naqvi lost his composure and issued disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Khan and Energy Minister Ayub over poor gas supply in Karachi.

“I am not concerned if it is the PTI’s government [at the Centre] or the PML-N’s (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz),” he had said during a press conference. “The city has very poor gas delivery. I will keep on raising my voice [over the issue]. The Prime Minister should listen, Omar Ayub should listen and Nadeem Babar (Special Assistant to PM on Petroleum) should also listen. I will make sure they feel ashamed and will say to them ‘Koi sharam hoti hai, koi haya hoti hai (where is your shame, your honour?)’,” said Naqvi.

That same night, he tweeted an apology to party workers for not having conveyed his “words” properly which he admitted seemed to indicate that he was criticising Prime Minister Khan.

“My intention was to say I am going to complain about the energy minister and SSGC (Sui Southern Gas Company) to the PM, on hearing the recording, words are not exactly conveying that,” he wrote. “My apologies to my leader, who is the most committed and upright man I have met,” Naqvi added.